Tools

Small Black & Class Actress, DJ Yes! Sputnik

When: Sun., Oct. 24, 9 p.m. 2010Price: $8

Though Small Black fit within the chillwave rubric—heavily processed, loop-driven music with a somnambulant drift and trebly breakbeats—there's more meat to the meal than their peers' typical thin gruel of mechanized, watercolor synth. On the other hand, auteur Josh Kolenik's wispy tenor's so slight it's nearly translucent. His sound may work within the context of the music, but it's nearly a non-entity, just a pale balloon bobbing above busy, colorful arrangements. Though the sound's nowhere close to no-fi, it's a welcome change from the shiny textures favored by the band's peers. Small Black is still minimal, but at least it supports your attention. With Class Actress and DJ Yes! Sputnik. —Chris Parker